Feeding behaviour and phylogeny: observations on early derivative Acari

Abstract

Based on laboratory observations of three species of Allothyrus (Parasitiformes: Holothyrida: Allothyridae) from south east Queensland and gut content analysis of 62 individuals representing 11 species of Allothyrus from eastern Australia, we determined that Australian Allothyridae are scavengers that ingest fluids only. Living arthropods, nematodes, snails and annelids were ignored, but dead arthropods were readily fed upon and were sufficient to maintain adults and nymphs for many months. The adults were sluggish, timid animals that relied on armour, thanatosis and probably on noxious chemicals for protection: the juveniles produced secretions from idiosomal glands. In contrast, most early derivative Mesostigmata that we tested (Sejina, species of Sejus and Uropodella; Uropodina, Polyaspis sp. and Cercomegistina, an undescribed Asternoseiidae) were aggressive predators of small invertebrates and ingested fluids only; however, two species of Asternolaelaps (Sejina) had solid fungal and animal material in their guts. Similarly, the early derivative acariform (Palaeosomata, species of Stomacarus and Loftacarus) and opilioacariform mites (an undescribed Opilioacarida from Australia) that we examined all ingested particulate foods, including fungal and animal material. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the earliest mites were scavengers and opportunistic predators that ingested solid foods and that fluid feeding is a derived condition linking the three orders of Parasitiformes (Holothyrida, Ixodida and Mesostigmata).